Housing for securing a recessed fixture

Abstract

The current invention relates to a housing (10) for securing a recessed fixture in a support (20), the housing (10) comprising at least one spring (12) resting on a portion of the side wall (10a) when loaded, and extending outwardly from the side wall (10a) when released so as to secure the housing (10) in the support (20); the housing (10) further comprises at least one releasable retention member keeping the spring (12) loaded over a given length of insertion of the housing (10) into the support (20). The housing (10) can notably be used in a recessed light fixture.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. Housing for securing a recessed fixture in a support comprising a hole, the housing comprising:
 a side wall configured to be at least partly inserted through the hole, 
 at least one spring attached to the side wall, 
 
       wherein the spring is configured for resting, winding around on a portion of the side wall when loaded, and for extending outwardly from the side wall when released so as to secure the housing in the support, the housing further comprising a retention member for keeping the spring loaded as long as a length of the side wall that has been inserted through the hole is smaller than a determined length, and for releasing the spring when the length of the side wall that has been inserted through the hole reaches the determined length;
 and wherein the side wall is formed by a rim of essentially cylindrical shape, said retention member being formed by at least one sliding element configured for being slid along the surface of the side wall parallel to the side wall main axis as the housing is being inserted through the hole; 
 wherein each sliding element is formed by a clip comprising a leg configured for leaning on a surface of the support as the housing is inserted through the hole; and 
 wherein the side wall comprises a plurality of side wall sections separated by gaps, a gap being defined by the respective edges of two adjacent side wall sections, each clip being configured for sliding on two adjacent side wall sections. 
 
     
     
       2. The housing as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a shoulder designed to rest on a surface of the support when the housing is fully inserted, and wherein each leg is configured to lean on the shoulder when the housing is fully inserted. 
     
     
       3. The housing as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the clip comprises a horizontal groove configured for retaining one of said springs. 
     
     
       4. The housing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each clip comprises a sliding member configured to be led along the corresponding edges of adjacent side, wall sections, forming leading surfaces. 
     
     
       5. The housing as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said sliding member is formed by grooves in the lateral edges of the clip. 
     
     
       6. The housing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said springs are made of steel. 
     
     
       7. The housing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said springs are made of a plastic material. 
     
     
       8. A recessed light fixture comprising a housing as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       9. Housing for securing a recessed fixture in a support comprising a hole, the housing comprising:
 a side wall configured to be at least partly inserted through the hole, 
 at least one spring attached to the side wall, wherein the spring is configured for resting, winding around on a portion of the side wall when loaded, and for extending outwardly from the side wall when released so as to secure the housing in the support, the housing further comprising a retention member for keeping the spring loaded as long as a length of the side wall that has been inserted through the hole is smaller than a determined length, and for releasing the spring when the length of the side wall that has been inserted through the hole reaches the determined length; 
 
       and wherein the side wall is formed by a rim of essentially cylindrical shape, said retention member being formed by at least one sliding element configured for being slid along the surface of the side wall parallel to the side wall main axis as the housing is being inserted through the hole;
 wherein each spring has a shape designed to allow releasing the mounting through rotating the housing; 
 wherein each spring is a bevelled spring formed by an elongated blade having an essentially triangular shape, comprising at least one first end with a smaller height and one second end with a larger end, the housing comprising attachment means for attaching said second end to the side wall; and 
 wherein said attachment means are formed by spring attachment means on the surface of the side wall comprising grooves configured to be mated with corresponding notches realized on the springs in the region of said second end.